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San Mateo County · CaliforniaAppeal Your San Mateo County Property Tax.
The San Mateo County Assessor's office in Redwood City values every property on California's January 1 lien date. When that assessed value overshoots the market, file both: an informal Prop 8 decline in value review with the assessor (fast, often resolves without a hearing) and a formal Assessment Appeals Board filing with the Clerk of the Board (protects your right to a hearing).
San Mateo County Assessor
Source: California State Board of Equalization county directory.
Where to File in San Mateo County
Deadline verified against the California BOE county assessment appeals filing periods list. Always confirm current-year details with the San Mateo County Clerk of the Board before filing.
San Mateo County Prop 8 Filing Steps
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Check if your property qualifies
Run your address or APN through vulorean.com. If your assessed value exceeds current market value as of January 1, you have a viable Prop 8 claim.
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Get your Vulorean valuation report
A market value opinion as of January 1 with comparable sales. Choose DIY or Concierge.
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Submit your appeal
File both: an informal Decline in Value Reassessment with the Assessor and a formal appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board.
DIY Fill out the informal Decline in Value Reassessment and the formal Assessment Appeal Application using your Vulorean report.Concierge Your rep prepares both forms. Sign the Agent Authorization Form (included with your report - purchase to access) so they can act for you.- Informal form: Download Decline in Value Reassessment (PDF) (included with your report - purchase to access)
- Formal appeal form: Download Assessment Appeal Application (PDF) (included with your report - purchase to access)
- Property tax reappraisal landing page: smcgov.org — Assessment Appeals Board
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File your appeal
Submit the formal appeal to the San Mateo County Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board.
DIY Mail or deliver in person to Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board, 400 County Center, BOS104, Redwood City, CA 94063, or email AAB@smcgov.org.Concierge Your rep submits the appeal on your behalf. -
Await response
If approved, you will be notified. If a hearing is scheduled, you may need to attend.
DIY Watch for a response by mail. Attend any scheduled hearing or send a representative.Concierge Your rep monitors the response and handles any hearing.
San Mateo County reminder: California's Prop 13 caps annual taxable value growth at 2%, so a successful appeal keeps paying dividends every year your market value sits below the Prop 13 base. Prop 8 is the complement. It lets you capture temporary market dips. Both paths run through the San Mateo County Assessor in Redwood City.
When You Probably Qualify for a San Mateo County Reduction
- Your current assessed value is above recent sales of comparable homes in San Mateo County
- You bought in San Mateo County in the last 12 months below the county's assessed value
- Your San Mateo Assessor parcel record has errors, wrong square footage, added features that don't exist, or incorrect grade
- Your home has unrepaired damage, structural issues, foundation settling, or major deferred maintenance
- Your neighborhood's market softened but the San Mateo Assessor hasn't adjusted
San Mateo County Appeal Package · $55 Flat
We pull your San Mateo County Assessor record, build comparable sales, and produce a filing ready BOE-305-AH appeal in 48 hours. You keep 100% of the savings.
Start My San Mateo County Appeal →San Mateo County Property Tax FAQ
When does San Mateo County mail assessment notices?
California counties, including San Mateo, typically mail notices in June or July. Your window to file BOE-305-AH opens July 2 and closes November 30 in San Mateo County, per the California BOE county filing periods list. Confirm current-year dates with the San Mateo Clerk's office.
Do I have to use an attorney?
No. The California Assessment Appeals Board is designed for pro se homeowners. Filing BOE-305-AH is a two page form and hearings are informal. Most San Mateo County homeowners file and represent themselves.
Will my San Mateo County taxes go up if I appeal?
No. California appeal outcomes at the Assessment Appeals Board are strictly reductions or no change. Prop 13 caps assessed value growth at 2% per year regardless.
Is Prop 8 the same as Prop 13?
No. Prop 13 is the base year rule that caps annual assessment growth. Prop 8 is the companion rule that lets the assessor (or you) temporarily drop your value below the Prop 13 base when the market falls. When the market recovers, your value can rise back up to the Prop 13 cap, but not above it.